Faucet for both pressurized and non-pressurized water systems

ABSTRACT

A faucet including valve means for controlling flow of fluid through it, and an electrical switch responsive to operation of the valve means for controlling the pressure of fluid between the fluid supply and the faucet inlet. The faucet has a tubular body and a shaft movable axially within the body. A screw thread relationship is provided between the shaft and the faucet body so that initial shaft movement to close or open the inlet to the body is produced by rotating the shaft. The threadably engaged parts may be separated so that the shaft can be manually shifted axially within the body, without simultaneously rotating the shaft, so as to produce a pumping action.

United States Patent [19] Davenport et a1.

[ FAUCET FOR BOTH PRESSURIZED AND NON-PRESSURIZED WATER SYSTEMS [75] Inventors: William R. Davenport, Brick Town; Y

William D. Jones, Point Pleasant, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Crowell Designs, Inc., Point Pleasant, NJ.

221 Filed: Dec. 14, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 207,747

[451 July 3,1973

Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney-Alan H. Levine 1 1 ABSTRACT A faucet including valve means for controlling flow of fluid through it, and an electrical switch responsive to operation of the valve means for controlling the pressure of fluid between the fluid supply and the faucet inlet. The faucet has a tubular body and a shaft movable axially within the body. A screw thread relationship is provided between the shaft and the faucet body so that initial shaft movement to close or open the inlet to the body is produced by rotating the shaft. The threadably engaged parts may be separated so that the shaft can be manually shifted axially within the body, without simultaneously rotating the shaft, so as to produce a pumping action.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures FAUCET FOR BOTH PRESSURIZED AND NON-PRESSURIZED WATER SYSTEMS The present invention relates to faucets and in particular to a faucet which is usable with pressurized and non-pressurized fluid sources.

Recreational vehicles, such as trailers and boats, use fixtures which are either connected to a reservoir of non-pressurized water located in the vehicle or, when the vehicle is stopped for a period of time, to a city water line. When operated with the city water line, or any other pressurized water system, such a fixture operates as a normal household faucet. However, when the fixture is connected to a non-pressurized reservoir, some means must be provided for pumping the water from the reservoir through the faucet. This may be done either by means of an electrical pump or a hand pump.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a single faucet (a) capable of acting as a normal faucet when connected to a pressurized water source, (b) capable of controlling the operation of an electric pump if used with a system having such a pump for bringing water from a reservoir to the faucet, and (c) capable of being used as a hand pump for bringing water from a reservoir to the faucet.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a faucet which can be arranged for use in any one or two of the modes mentioned above without being arranged for use in the third mode.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a faucet capable of being used as a hand pump, and wherein the hand pump is double-acting, i.e., pumps water during each of its forward and return strokes.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a faucet wherein a valve element, used to close the inlet to the faucet when the faucet is closed, also serves as a one-way valve, when the faucet is being used as a hand pump, to prevent water from leaving the faucet body but permitting water to enter it.

The above mentioned and other objects of this invention will become apparent by reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a faucet according to the invention, the faucet being closed;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the faucet, taken along line 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the faucet, taken along line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the faucet, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the faucet, taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the faucet, the faucet having been partially opened;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the faucet, the faucet having been open for use as a double acting pump;

FIG. 8 is a schamatic representation of a system for supplying fluid to the faucet from a non-pressurized fluid source; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic of the faucet connected to a city water line.

A cross-sectional view ofa faucet chosen to illustrate the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The faucet 10 includes a tubular body member 11 having a hole 12 in its side wall near its upper end. Member 11 has an external thread 13 surrounding an opening 15 in its lower end, the diameter of opening 15 being larger than the diameter of the interior 16 of the member 11. A hole 14, provided at the upper end of tubular member 11 has a diameter smaller than that of the interior 16. A shaft 17 is concentrically supported within tubular member 11. The shaft has an external thread 18 at its lower end, a flange 19 above thread 18, the diameter of flange 19 being smaller than the diameter of the interior 16, and a flange 20 having a diameter about equal to the diameter of interior 16 but being provided with axial slots 31 (see also FIG. 5).

Shaft 17 is movably supported within hole 14, and the interior wall of member 11 movably supports flange 20. Thus, shaft 17 can be moved axially and rotated within member 11. A nut 21 having an internal thread 22 and axial slots 23 on its surface (see FIGS. 1, 4 and 6) is rigidly secured within the opening 15. As a result, when the thread 18 of the shaft 17 is engaged with the thread 22 of the nut 21, a rotation of the shaft 17 causes the shaft to move axially. The tubular member 11 supports a bottom cap 24 formed with a downwardly projecting stem 32 having a circular hole 25 at its center, a valve seat 25' surrounding hole 25, a ridge 26 around the valve seat 25', and an internally threaded wall 27 which is engageable with the external thread 13 of the tubular member 11. The bottom cap supports a circular gasket 28 between the ridge 26 and the wall 27, and the ridge 26 retains a valve disk 29 over the inner end of hole 25. When the bottom cap 24 is screwed onto the tubular member 11, the end of the tubular member 11 compresses the circular gasket 28 and the compressed gasket 28 prevents water from flowing out through the connection when the faucet 10 is being used.

When the bottom cap 24 is connected to a source of pressurized water, such as by stretching one end of a resilient hose (not shown) over the outside of stem 32, and the parts are as shown in FIG. 6, the water flows into the hole 25, around the valve disk 29, through the slots 23 in the nut 21, around the flange 19, past a ring seal 30 having a U-shaped cross-section, supported between the flanges 19 and 20, through the radial slots 31 in the slotted flange 20, through interior l6, and out the hole 12. The water will continue to flow until the shaft 17 is rotated so as to advance its end against the valve disk 29 (see FIG. I), and press the latter against the valve seat 25, thereby preventing water from flowing upwardly past the valve seat.

A base 33 connected, such as by a suitable adhesive, to the tubular member 11 includes a hole 34, through which the upper end of tubular member 11 passes, and top space 35 which retains a ring seal 36. When the base 33 is connected to the tubular member 11, the ring seal 36 is located around the shaft 17 and adjacent to the hole 14 to prevent leakage of water through the hole 34. In addition, the base 33 includes a tubular extension 37, the interior of which communicates with the hole 12, and the exterior of which carries an upwardly projecting ridge 40 (FIGS. 1, 3, and 6).A threaded hole 38 in base 33 supports an electric switch 39. When water is permitted to flow, the tubular extension 37 guides the water from the hole 12 to a discharge cap 41 which is coupled to the base 33. The ridge 40 pivotally supports the ends of the arms of a yokeshaped actuator 42, which loosely straddle shaft 17, the

opposite end of yoke 42 resting upon the resilient actuator button 43 of the switch 39.

The faucet It) includes a knob 44 having a hollow cylindrical projection 45. The projection 45 surrounds the upper end of shaft 17 and is connected by a pin 46 to the shaft 17. The lower end of the cylindrical projection 45 is slidably engageable with the upper face of yoke 42. As a result, when the knob 44 is turned so that the shaft 17 is drawn into the tubular member 11 to prevent the flow of water, the end of the circular projection 45 causes the yoke 42 to depress the switch actuator 43. Depression of the switch actuator 43 causes the internal contacts of the switch 39 to open. When the knob is turned in the other direction so as to permit water to flow (see FIG. 6), the knob 44 moves axially away from tubular member 11, thereby enabling the resilient actuator 43 to move the yoke 42 upwardly and to close the internal electrical contacts (not shown) of the switch 39. A cover 48 snap fitted to the base 33 serves to enclose and protect the operative arrangement described above.

The faucet 10 may be used with pressurized or nonpressurized water supplies. When the faucet 10 is to be used with a non-pressurized reservoir 49, as shown in FIG. 8, the switch 39 is connected in series with a switch 50, a battery 51, and an electric pump 52. In addition, the inlet port of the electric pump 52 is connected to the reservoir by a pipe 54 and the outlet port of the electric pump 52 is connected by a pipe 53 to the faucet 10. As a result, when the switch 50 is closed and the knob 44 of the faucet 10 is turned to cause shaft 17 to rise, the switch 39 closes and the electric pump 52 supplies pressurized water to the faucet 10. The pressurized water flows through the faucet 10 and out the discharge cap 41.

Alternatively, if no electricity is available, or if the installation includes no pump 52, the knob 44 may be turned until the thread 18 is disengaged from the thread 22 of the nut 21 (see FIG. 7). Thereafter, if the shaft 17 is pulled upwardly with respect to the tubular cylinder 11, the ring seal 30 will prevent water from flowing through the slots 31 in flange and water in the annular space between shaft 17 and member 1 1 will be pushed out through the hole 12, extension 37, and the discharge cap 41. At the same time, valve disk 29 is lifted off seat 25' and water will be drawn from the reservoir 49 into the member 11 beneath the rising shaft 17. When the shaft 17 is pushed back downwardly into the tubular member 11, valve disk 29 is pressed by water pressure against seat 25 and most of the water between the ring seal 30 and the valve disk 29 will be displaced by the shaft 17. The displacement causes the water to flow past ring seal 30 and through the slot 31 in the flange and out of the discharge cap 41. Thus, each upward and each downward stroke of the shaft 17 causes water to flow through the faucet 10 from the non-pressurized reservoir 49.

As shown in FIG. 8, the faucet 10 is directly connected by pipe 53 to the pump 52 and in addition is coupled to the reservoir via a check valve 55. This arrangement permits the water from the pump 52 from being returned to the reservoir 49 while allowing the faucet 10 to be used as a hand pump.

Referring to FIG. 9, the faucet 10 may also be connected directly to a city water main 56, if such is available. In this case, water will flow through the faucet when the parts are moved from the position of FIG. 1

to that of FIG. 6, and flow of water is terminated by returning the parts to the FIG. 1 position.

From the foregoing it may be seen that the invention provides a faucet 10 which may be used with pressurized water such as is provided by a city line 56; may be used as a manually-operated pump with nonpressurized reservoir 49; or may be used with an electrically controllable pump 52, to provide water.

It is to be understood that the description herein of a preferred embodiment according to the invention is set forth as an example thereof and is not to be construed or interpreted as a limitation on the claims which follow and define the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A faucet for controlling the flow of fluid from a fluid supply, comprising:

a. a tubular body having an inlet communicating with the fluid supply, and an outlet,

b. valve means for controlling the flow of fluid through said body from said inlet to said outlet, said valve means including a shaft movable within said body, a seal surrounding said shaft and slidably engaged to the interior surface of said body, so that as said shaft is axially moved out of said body fluid is drawn into the latter through said inlet, and passageway means through which fluid in said body passes to said outlet during the return movement of said shaft into the body; and

c. electrical means responsive to operation of said valve means for controlling the pressure of fluid between the fluid supply and said inlet.

2. A faucet as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrical means comprises an electric circuit including an electric pump which when energized pumps fluid from the supply to said inlet; and a switch responsive to opening of said valve means, to permit flow of fluid through said body, for completing said circuit and energizing said pump, said switch being opened when said valve means is closed.

3. A faucet as defined in claim 2 including manuallyoperable means for controlling the position of said valve means; a base coupled to the body; a cover connected to the base, thereby providing an enclosure; a yoke movably mounted with respect to said body within the enclosure,and wherein said switch is coupled to the base with its actuator extending into the enclosure, said actuator being responsive to movement of the yoke by the manually operable means.

4. A faucet as defined in claim 1 wherein said passageway means is within said body and defined by a spacing between said shaft and body.

5. A faucet as defined in claim 4 wherein said seal is so formed that it permits fluid flow through said spacing from said inlet to said outlet but prevents fluid flow through said spacing from said outlet toward said inlet.

6. A faucet as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a valve seat surrounding said inlet, and a vlave element unconnected to said shaft adapted to engage said seat to close said inlet, water pressure at said inlet serving to move said element away from said seat and open said inlet.

7. A faucet as defined in claim 1 including a threaded element fixed with respect to said body, and said shaft carries a thread engageable with said threaded element, whereby rotation of said shaft causes axial movement of the latter toward and away from said inlet to gradually effect opening and closing thereof, said shaft being rotatable until it completely disengages said threaded element so that it can then be moved axially with respect to said body without the need for accompanying rotation. 

1. A faucet for controlling the flow of fluid from a fluid supply, comprising: a. a tubular body having an inlet communicating with the fluid supply, and an outlet, b. valve means for controlling the flow of fluid through said body from said inlet to said outlet, said valve means including a shaft movable within said body, a seal surrounding said shaft and slidably engaged to the interior surface of said body, so that as said shaft is axially moved out of said body fluid is drawn into the latter through said inlet, and passageway means through which fluid in said body passes to said outlet during the return movement of said shaft into the body; and c. electrical means responsive to operation of said valve means for controlling the pressure of fluid between the fluid supply and said inlet.
 2. A faucet as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrical means comprises an electric circuit including an electric pump which when energized pumps fluid from the supply to said inlet; and a switch responsive to opening of said valve means, to permit flow of fluid through said body, for completing said circuit and energizing said pump, said switch being opened when said valve means is closed.
 3. A faucet as defined in claim 2 including manually-operable means for controlling the position of said valve means; a base coupled to the body; a cover connected to the base, thereby providing an enclosure; a yoke movably mounted with respect to said body within the enclosure,and wherein said switch is coupled to the base with its actuator extending into the enclosure, said actuator being responsive to movement of the yoke by the manually operable means.
 4. A faucet as defined in claim 1 wherein said passageway means is within said body and defined by a spacing between said shaft and body.
 5. A faucet as defined in claim 4 wherein said seal is so formed that it permits fluid flow through said spacing from said inlet to said outlet but prevents fluid flow through said spacing from said outlet toward said inlet.
 6. A faucet as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a valve seat surrounding said inlet, and a valve element unconnected to said shaft adapted to engage said seat to close said inlet, water pressure at said inlet serving to move said element away from said seat and open said inlet.
 7. A faucet as defined in claim 1 including a threaded element fixed with respect to said body, and said shaft carries a thread engageable with said threaded element, whereby rotation of said shaft causes axial movement of the latter toward and away from said inlet to gradually effect opening and closing thereof, said shaft being rotatable until it completely disengages said threaded element so that it can then be moved axially with respect to said body without the need for accompanying rotation. 